RBTH presents a selection of views from leading Russian media on international events, featuring reports on: the Feb. 24 four-party talks in Parison the Ukraine crisis; the presentation of an alliance agreement between Russia and South Ossetia; the EU’s promise to continue financial aid to Greece in exchange for reforms.

The
Kommersant business daily reportson the
meeting in Paris between the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and
France on regulating the conflict in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the meeting "useful."

He emphasized that according to the negotiators' general evaluation, the
situation in the Donbass is improving, even though "OSCE observers still
note some sporadic violations." Lavrov also said that it is necessary to
start the withdrawal of heavy weaponry as soon as possible.

According
to Kommersant, this statement was an obvious accusation directed at the
Ukrainian government, which refuses to commence the process of weapons withdrawal
until the ceasefire regime has been fully implemented. Representatives of the
self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk “people’s republics” have already agreed on
the first stage of withdrawal of heavy weaponry, writes the newspaper.

Kommersant
reports that the ministers also discussed Kiev's initiative to deploy an
international "blue helmet" EU peacekeeping contingent in the Donbass,
which did not receive support. Instead, it was decided to substantially
strengthen the monitoring mission of the OSCE, which is already present in
Ukraine.

Furthermore,
the ministers agreed to charge the so-called contact group (consisting of
representatives of Ukraine, the Donbass rebels, Russia and the OSCE) with the
immediate implementation of other points of the Minsk Agreements: the
preparation of local elections and constitutional reforms, as well as the
establishment of social-economic links and banking services for the population
of the territories controlled by the rebels. For all these points to be
realized efficiently, subgroups will be created within the contact group, reports
Kommersant.

Putin to sign agreement
of alliance with South Ossetia - the first step to unification?

The Moskovsky Komsomolets tabloid newspaper writes that the Russian government has presented an agreement of alliance and
integration with the unrecognized Caucasus republic of South Ossetia [a
disputed territory that broke away from Georgia with Russian military backing
in 2008 – RBTH] to Russian President Vladimir Putin for signature. The
agreement has a duration period of 25 years and a possibility of being
extended.

Related:

The newspaper explains that the project includes,
in particular, deep integration, primarily on issues dealing with security,
customs and the interactivity of power structures. The project calls for the
creation of a single defense area, with Moscow protecting South Ossetia's
borders. These steps can be viewed in relation to "the military-political
situation that the region has found itself in."

Moskovsky Komsomolets adds that, according to the
agreement, aggression by third parties or illegal armed formations against one
of the signatories of the agreement will be interpreted as an armed invasion of
the other signatory.

The newspaper reminds its readers that President of
South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov said in 2013 that he does not exclude the
possibility of the unification of the Ossetian people living in South Ossetia
with those in North Ossetia, as part of the Russian Federation.

Athens has satisfied Brussels
- for now

The Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper reports that the
second package of EU aid to Greece expires on Feb. 28. If Greece does not
receive the funds remaining in the package, it will be threatened with a
default. In that case, the EU will face a political catastrophe linked to the
final discrediting of the economy's austerity policies, the undermining of the
European currency and the possible “Grexit” – a Greek departure from the eurozone.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes that Brussels fears that
Athens' demands to lighten its burden will be contagious for other countries
that are in debt. It is also unknown how Greece will behave in the future
concerning the sanctions policy against Russia.

However, the EU confirmed its agreement to extend
financial aid to Greece until July. As a result Greece can receive the
remaining funds, equal to 7.2 billion euros, for another four months.

The situation for the EU is rather critical since
Greece does not want to follow Brussels' policy unconditionally. The solution
that has been found, therefore, remains only temporary, writes Nezavisimaya
Gazeta.